Judaism Practices Part 2

Question 1

What are the ceremoneys at birth?

Answer 1

Naming of the baby

Brit Mitah

Redemption of the first born son

Question 2

Explain the naming of the baby cereomny

Answer 2

They are blest at the synagogue on the next Shabbat. The farther recited the Torah and asks god for a good lofe for his baby. In reform synagogues both parents may take part in the ceremony. This is SIGNIFICANT because it is the first formal introduction of the baby and the local community and God.

A girls name is announced
Boy’s names are announced after circumcision

Question 3

Explain the Brit Mitah ceremony?

Answer 3

Haopens when the baby is 8 days old. A close friend or a relative places the baby on a chair to symbolise the presence of the phrophet Elijah

Blessigns are said over wine and the baby is circumcised.

Then the family and guests party and have a celebratory meal

This is significant because it recalls the covenant made by God and Abraham and it gives a life long reminder to Jews that they are one of Gods people

Question 4

Explain the Redemption of the forst born son ceremony?

Answer 4

Some orthodox Jews give a small amount of money 31 days after the first of a first birn son.

5 silver coins are given the the kohen (a decendent of the priest who used to work at the Temple

Prays are also said to ask for “entrance into Torah, into marriage and into good deeds”

This is significant because it follows the Mitzovt commandments

Question 5

What is a bar/bat mitzva?

Answer 5

Bar - Boy 13 years old

Bat - Girl 12 years old

It is when a boy/girl becomes a man/women. It brings the community closser and it is when a jewish boy can join the minyan and when Jews are expected to start following the laws seriosly.

Question 6

What happens at the bar/bat mitzah?

Answer 6

The boy reads from the Torah. They boy then wears a talit for the first time and makes a short speach.

The boys farther will then thank God for his sons maturity and declear that he is now responcible for his own decisions. After the service there is a party

Orthodox Jews sometimes mark a girls bat mitzvah with a family meal with small relogios gifts

Question 7

What is Berothal?

Answer 7

The period of time where a couple are engaged (around 12 months)
Jews believe that this time can only be brocken by death or divorce

Question 8

What haopens before a jewish weading?

Answer 8

The bride and groom go underneath the chuppah (a canopy) to symbolise there new home together.

They recite 2 blessings over wine.

In an orthodox weading the man will place a ring on the womens finger however in a reform weading there may be an exchange of rings

Question 9

What is the marriage contract?

Answer 9

It is signed in the presence of witnesses

Orthodx views: covers aspects such as there dutys to each other, how the man will care for his wife and what will happen to the mans atributes if he dies and how the man will care for the women in case of divorce

Reform: focuses more on spiritual things. It often describes mutual hopes for the sucess of the marriage

Question 10

What happens on the marriage itself?

Answer 10

Seven weading vows are recited. The rabi will make a short speach and bless the couple

The groom will break a glass under his heal to symbolise hos regreat for the destruction of the Temple and to show how life has joy and hardships. The congregation will then wish the couple good luck

Question 11

What happens after the weading?

Answer 11

The couple spend time in a room alone to symbolise there new marriage.

There will then be a party.

Question 12

What happens when a death is first announced?

Answer 12

Jews make a small tear in there cloths to follw expectations as Jacop did. People also say blessings to confirm there belief that they accept Gods decision to take that perosns life

Question 13

What happens in the first period of mourning?

Answer 13

Most jews are burried withing 24 hours of death. Untill then Jews believe that the soul is still in the body and therefore it shoud be comforted.

Close family is left the greif without needing to follow certian Jewish laws

Question 14

What happens in shiva?

The second period of mourning

Answer 14

An intense period of mourning that lasts for 7 days after the burriel. People don’t work and they prey 3 times a day. The KADDISH is said which praises God and asks for peace

Mourners don’t wear makeup, cut there hair or shave. Also mirrors are covered up so that people don’t focus on there phycical appearance.

Question 15

What happens in the third period of mourning?

Answer 15

Begins after shiva and lasts for 30 days after the death.

Normall life continues but mourners don’t cut there hair, shave, go to partys or listen to music

Male mourners will say rhe kaddish daily in the synagogue

Question 16

What happens during the final period of mourning?

Answer 16

For 11 months jews don’t go to partys and the children continue to say the kaddish

Question 17

What happens after a year of mourning?

Answer 17

The formal period of morning is over however son’s may still say the kaddish

A candle is lit every year on the anervercity that lasts for 24 hours

Question 18

What happens just before the funeral?

Answer 18

The body is wrapped and cleaned and placed in linen and a talid for men. They use simple coffin for everyone so show how everyone is equal. The bodys are taken staraight to the cemetary and not to the synagogue as the synagogue is a place of life.

After the funeral everyone washes there hands to show how the death has been washed away.

Jewish law states all graves must have a tombstone

Question 19

What is Rosh Hashanah

Answer 19

The jewish new year.

It is a time to remember God’s creation of the world and a day of judgment

It is concidered the anavercity of when God made the world.

This is where God decides the fortunes of Jews for the next year.

Question 20

How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated today?

Answer 20

They may do charity work and fix there sins as this is the last chance to be good.

The day before Rosh Hashanah premerations are made for a family meal with symbolic foods eg Apples dipped in honey

In the evening prayers are said in the synagogue service asking God to be there king. The next mornng a ram’s horn is blown 100 times

Question 21

What is Yom Kippur?

Answer 21

Known as the day of Atonement. This is the holiest day for a Jew

“Attomenant shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins” Leviticus 16:30

This day is belived to be the last chance of that year to do good

Question 22

How is Yom Kippur celebrated in Britian today?

Answer 22

Many Jews spend it in the synagogue asking for God’s forgivness.

Jews participate in general confessions. During the final mass peole are given the chance to make a final confession. Afer this the doors to the Ark are closed to represent that God’s jugment has been made.

Question 23

What may a Jew do before Yom Kippur?

What do they wear during it/ what is banned?

Answer 23

A Jew may choose to Fast 25 hours befor hand

A jew will wear white as a symbol of the purity.

Jews arn’t alloud to bath, wear leather shoes or have sex durong Yom Kippur

Question 24

What is Pesach?

What do some poeple do before it?

Answer 24

It celebrates jews escpae from Egypt and the birth of the jewish nation

It perticular it focuses on the last plague (killing of the forst born son)

Some first born males fast before it to show there thanks to God

Question 25

What is the most important symbol of Pesach?

Answer 25

The removal of Yeast from the house. This repesents how the Jews had to leave Egypt so quickly that they didn’t have time to wait for there bread to rise.

Question 26

What is the passover seder?

Answer 26

A special meal in Pesach. The youngest fo the family will ak 4 questions and they will be answered by the telling of Moseses story.

In this meal there is:

Red Wine: A reminder of the lambs blood. 4 glasses of wine are blessed to symbolise the 4 freedoms God prommised Jews in Exdocus 6:6-7

Unleaven bread: Symbolises how the Jews had to leave Egypt so quickely that they couldn’t wait for there bread to rise

A special plate of food which contained (different flashcard)

Question 27

What do the different things on the Pesach plate represent?

Answer 27

Green Vegtables: They represent the new life in the promised land

Salt Water: Represents the tears of slavery

Bitter Herbs: Represents the bitterness of slavery

Sweet Charoset: Represents the motor that the Jews had to use in slavery and reminds jews that life in now sweeter

Egg and Lamb Bone: Reminds Jews of the sacrafises that were made in the Temple of Jeruselam

Question 28

How many people are needed in a minyan?

Answer 28

10

Question 29

What may a couple do before a weading?

Answer 29

Fast to remove sin from themself